Spotlight on 10 prominent figures, "former MPs from 2023 and well-known candidates," who failed the 2026 election and missed entering parliament.
The 2026 House of Representatives election concluded with unofficial results showing 94% of votes counted on the Election Commission website as of 17:45 on 10 Feb 2026 GMT+7. The results reveal which candidates won district MP seats and the number of party-list MPs each party secured. Several candidates who were parliamentary stars after the 2023 election failed to advance, including many well-known candidates who attracted attention in this 2026 election.
Thairath Online's special news team has compiled a list of 10 notable candidates, including former MPs and newcomers, who failed in the 2026 election.
Dr. Chalnan was an unexpected failure. A long-standing figure, he served as Nan MP for over six terms and was a key leader of the Pheu Thai Party, having been party leader and minister in several ministries. He was also known for his debating skills, earning the title "Parliament Star" However, this time his vote count fell to third place, behind the Kla Tham Party and the Prachachon Party. The winner in this district was Prasit Notha from Kla Tham Party.
Nuchanat, a former Sisaket MP from Pheu Thai Party, once went viral for a heated debate with Wiroj Lakkhanaadisorn, a party-list MP from Prachachon Party, during a no-confidence debate, coining the phrase "Kiki" Later, Nuchanat became part of a group "turncoats" who voted for Anutin Charnvirakul, leader of Bhumjaithai Party, as prime minister.
In this election, Nuchanat ran as an MP candidate for Kla Tham Party but failed, placing fourth behind candidates from Bhumjaithai, Pheu Thai, and Prachachon parties respectively.
Petch Karunaphon, a former actor turned politician and current deputy spokesperson for Prachachon Party, played a key role in party communications and was known for his notable parliamentary debates. He ran as a party-list MP candidate at position 33 in the 2026 election. Unofficial counts show Prachachon won 31 party-list MPs, narrowly missing Karunaphon's position.
Mr. Wiroj is a parliamentary star of the "orange party," known for his outstanding debates since the Future Forward Party era. In the 2026 election, he ran as party-list MP at position 99, the last on the party list (following one withdrawal). He aimed to enter parliament this term and was considered a potential minister if Prachachon formed the government.
Mr. Kanavee was the sole former MP of the Attham Party from the 2023 election. After serving in parliament and showing notable debate skills, he resigned from his former party and founded a new party, "Palawad Party" He served as party leader and sole prime minister candidate. However, unofficial results show Palawad Party received about 100,000 votes, insufficient to gain any party-list MPs.
Gen. Rangsee, former advisor to the 1st Army Region and former director of Channel 5, entered politics as leader and sole prime minister candidate of the Economic Party. He ran as party-list MP at position 10. The Economic Party attracted public interest with strong policies like "Corruption equals death penalty," earning over one million votes and three party-list MPs. However, this was not enough to secure Gen. Rangsee a seat this term.
Mongkolkit, or P'Tae 007, a former famous MP who entered parliament in 2019 as the sole party-list MP of Thai Sriwilai Party and became known for his eccentric debates, failed in the 2023 election. In 2026, he ran under New Alternative Party as prime minister candidate and party-list MP at position 3, proposing surprising policies such as establishing a space force, allowing women to have four husbands, and buying nuclear weapons. The party received about 180,000 votes, winning one party-list MP but not enough for Mongkolkit to enter parliament.
Suchatvee Suwansawat, Party-list No. 1, Thai Kao Mai Party
Dr. Ae, is a former engineering faculty professor and former president of King Mongkut's Institute of Technology Ladkrabang, as well as former president of the Engineering Institute of Thailand. He is a respected academic who entered politics in 2021 by joining the Democrat Party and ran for Bangkok governor but lost. Dr. Ae continued political work with the party and ran as party-list MP at position 12 in 2023 but failed to enter parliament. Later, he resigned from the party and in 2026 founded
"Thai Kao Mai Party," focusing on education policies and collaborating with former Democrat Party leaders like Khunying Kanlaya Sophonpanich and Tun Jitpas Kridakorn. Dr. Ae serves as party leader, sole prime minister candidate, and party-list MP at position 1. However, the party received about 100,000 votes, insufficient for party-list seats. Chaiwut Thanakamanusorn, Party-list No. 1, Rakchat Party
In 2023, he ran as Palang Pracharath party-list MP at position 3 and entered parliament as the party won 10 party-list MPs. However, he resigned to make way for the next candidate, remaining deputy party leader. At the end of 2025, he left the party and returned to the 2026 election as leader, prime minister candidate, and party-list MP at position 1 of
Rakchat Party. The Rakchat Party gained attention for recruiting influencers and celebrities and campaigned with policies accompanied by "dancing." However, unofficial results show the party received about 60,000 votes, failing to win any party-list seats. Dr. Supat Hasuwannakit, Songkhla District 2, Prachachon Party
Dr. Supat, a well-known doctor and former chairman of the Rural Doctors Club, led rural doctors to Bangkok in 2021 to conduct COVID-19 testing. Later, he faced a disciplinary investigation related to irregular ATK procurement, which he claimed was retaliation for criticizing the COVID-19 management of Anutin Charnvirakul when he was Health Minister, as well as the Bhumjaithai Party's cannabis policy.
Juree Numkaew,
a former internet idol and popular TikTok star, running for the Democrat Party. Before the election, a controversy arose when the Medical Council decided to dismiss Dr. Supat from his medical license, which if signed, would immediately disqualify him as a candidate. Prachachon Party stated Dr. Supat remained a candidate and pledged to pursue legal actions if the dismissal was unfair. As of now, the dismissal decision remains unclear. The election results for Songkhla District 2 showed Dr. Supat placed second, losing to Juree from the Democrat Party.